Steven Branfman, American (b. 1953)

A Raku Vessel (#1611)

2025 

About the work

Steven Branfman’s raku vessel (#1611) takes a tall, elegant form with a gently tapering neck rising from a rounded, weighty body. The silhouette is calm and deliberate, emphasizing vertical lift while remaining firmly grounded.

The surface is organized in horizontal bands that wrap the vessel, where matte charcoal clay is interrupted by layered glazes in rust red, soft white, muted green, and gray. These bands appear fractured and fluid at once, with glaze runs, blistering, and crackle revealing the dynamic nature of the raku firing. The textured midsection suggests stratified earth or geological seams, contrasting with the smoother, darker upper and lower zones.

The interplay between controlled form and spontaneous surface reflects Branfman’s approach to raku, where structure and unpredictability coexist. The vessel reads as both sculptural and meditative, with surface and volume working in close dialogue.

Dimensions

38.1cm(h) x 17.8cm(w)

Footnote

Steven Branfman received his Masters Degree from Rhode Island School Of Design in 1975 and has earned an international reputation as a clay artist. In 1977 he founded The Potters Shop and School in Needham, Massachusetts, USA, and has taught widely, including at Thayer Academy in Massachusetts since 1978. A member of the International Academy Of Ceramics, he has also held significant roles in several ceramics organizations. His Raku ware has been exhibited internationally and is included in collections such as the American Museum Of Ceramic Art and The Alfred Ceramic Art Museum. Branfman is the author of four books and a sought after workshop presenter in the United States and worldwide.